A method for selecting a power source for a load is provided. The method includes monitoring the primary power source, when the primary power source is providing power to the load, determining if a condition of the primary power source crosses a first threshold, when the condition crosses the first threshold, turning on a first power field effect transistor to couple a back-up power source to the load through a second power field effect transistor, when the primary power source is not providing power to the load, determining if a condition of the primary power source crosses a second threshold, and when the condition crosses the second threshold, switching off the first power field effect transistor to couple the primary power source to the load through a third power field effect transistor.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
2. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the controller includes a port that produces a signal that enables the circuit to share the backup power source in a 1:N redundancy arrangement.
3. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the first and second thresholds have different, configurable values.
4. The circuit of claim 1, and further comprising a voltage and current sensing circuit configured to sense at least the voltage or current at at least one of the first, second and third ports.
5. The circuit of claim 1, and further comprising a communications port coupled to the controller that is configured to establish the first and second thresholds.
6. The circuit of claim 1, and further including at least one of a discrete reference voltage, a digital potentiometer, stored memory or a highly precise resistor array that are configured to establish the first and second thresholds.
8. The circuit of claim 7, wherein the controller monitors the current at the first port to identify a short.
9. The circuit of claim 7, and further comprising a voltage and current sensing circuit configured to sense at least the current at at least one of the first and second ports.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein monitoring the first power source comprise monitoring the current from the first power source.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein monitoring the current of the first power source comprises monitoring the current from the first power source to detect a short.
14. The circuit of claim 13, wherein the first voltage level is lower than the second voltage level.
15. The circuit of claim 13, wherein the controller selectively turns off the switch based on the condition.
16. The circuit of claim 13, wherein the condition indicates that the second power source is acceptable for use.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein monitoring a condition comprises monitoring a voltage of the first power source.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein turning off the first power field effect transistor comprises turning off the first power field effect transistor coupled to the second power field effect transistor.
20. The method of claim 17, wherein coupling the second power source to the load through the second power field effect comprises coupling the second power source at a voltage level that is higher than the voltage level of the first power source.
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November 8, 2022
January 2, 2024
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